05/26/2010

UCI's Canadian reps to investigate Michael Barry

Canada's members of the International Cycling Union have been asked to investigate Canadian pro cyclist Michael Barry, based on the doping claims made by disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis.

The news was reported today by the Associated Press. The full story follows:

AIGLE, Switzerland - The International Cycling Union has asked
its national members in four countries — including Canada — to investigate
riders and officials based on claims of doping made by Floyd Landis.

The UCI said that ordering the probes did not "in any way" imply
it believes Landis' accusations.

Landis alleged Barry was part of the group of athletes on the
U.S. Postal Team, led by Armstrong, who doped to improve their performance.
Barry, a three-time Olympian from Toronto, flatly denied the allegation when it
was made last week.

The Canadian Cycling Association said it intends to go to the
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to seek its advice and counsel on how to
proceed.

"It’s an area that is fraught with legal jurisdictions and
fraught with expertise that no national sport organization would be expected to
have," said CCA chief executive officer Greg Mathieu.

"But the CCES does have that expertise that can give us that
advice. So we’ll be going there, but understanding that Michael Barry has
already made a statement that he’s racing clean. The Canadian Cycling
Association has no reason to believe that he isn’t.

"But we have been asked by our international federation to seek
out information from him to the furthest degree possible. Which I guess is more
than just saying, 'Did you do it?' and having him say ’No I didn’t.'"

A message left with Barry, who is competing at the Giro d'Italia,
was not immediately returned. Mathieu said he plans to get in touch with the
cyclist soon about what the next steps in the process will be.

A message left with the CCES was not immediately returned.

Landis alleged that Bruyneel and Armstrong tried to cover up a
failed drug test in 2001 by the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour title, has admitted
that he doped throughout his career.